Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Natural Treatment Options

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
(CTS) is a condition characterized by pain, numbness, and/or tingling
in the hand. This includes the palm and the 2nd, 3rd, and half of the
4th finger, usually sparing the thumb. Another indication of CTS is
weakness in grip strength such as difficulty opening a jar or even
holding a coffee cup. CTS can occur from many different causes, the most
common being repetitive motion injuries such as assembly line or
typing/computing work. Here is a PARTIAL list of potential causes of
CTS: heredity (a smaller tunnel), aging (>50 years old), rheumatoid
arthritis, pregnancy, hypothyroid, birth control pill use, trauma to the
wrist (especially colles fractures), diabetes mellitus, acromegaly, the
use of corticosteroids, tumors (benign or malignant), obesity
(BMI>29 are 2.5 more likely), double crush (pinching of the nerve in
more than one place such as the neck and the carpal tunnel),
heterozygous mutations in a gene (associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth),
parvovirus b19, and others. Again, repetitive trauma is still the most
common cause. It becomes quite clear that a COMPLETE physical
examination must be conducted, not just evaluation of the wrist! Once
the cause(s) of CTS has been nailed down, then treatment options can be
considered.

From a treatment perspective, we’ve previously
discussed what chiropractors typically do for CTS (spinal and extremity
joint manipulation, muscle/soft tissue mobilization, physical therapy
modalities such as laser, the use of a wrist splint – especially at
night, work task modifications, wrist/hand/arm/neck exercises, vitamin
B6, and more). But, what about using other “alternative” or non-medical
approaches, especially those that can be done alongside chiropractic
treatment? Here is a list of four alternative or complementary treatment
options:

Anti-inflammatory Goals: Reducing
systemic inflammation reduces overall pressure on the median nerve that
travels through the limited space within the carpal tunnel at the wrist.
An “anti-inflammatory diet” such a Mediterranean diet, gluten-free
diet, paleo-diet (also referred to as the caveman diet) can also help.
Helpful herbs include arnica, bromelain, white willow bark, curcumen,
ginger, turmeric, and boswellia. Vitamin/supplement approaches include
bioflavinoids, vitamin B6 (and other B vitamins such as B1 and B12),
vitamin C, and also omega-3 fatty acids.

Acupuncture:
Inserting very thin needles into specific acupuncture points both near
the wrist and further away can unblock energy channels (called
meridians), improve energy flow, release natural pain reducing chemicals
(endorphins and enkephlins), promote circulation, and balance the
nervous system. For CTS, the acupuncture points are located on the
wrist, arm, thumb, hand, neck, upper back, and leg. The number of
sessions varies, dependent on how long the CTS has been present, the
person’s overall health, and the severity of the condition.

Laser acupuncture:
The use of a low level (or “cold” laser) or a class IV pulsed laser
over the same acupuncture points as mentioned above can have very
similar beneficial effects (without needles)! One study found even
post-surgical patients with poor outcomes experienced improvement after 3
laser treatments per week for 4-5 weeks!

Acupressure:
Acupuncture point stimulation with manual pressure. These points can be
self-stimulated by the CTS sufferer multiple times a day via deep
rubbing techniques.

Search

Conditions

Archives

This information should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.